By On Wednesday, Egypt’s civil aviation ministry issued a directive instructing national carriers to avoid Iranian airspace during designated three-hour periods over the next two days due to planned military exercises. This decision comes after Iranian authorities notified civil aviation companies about the exercises, which are scheduled to take place between 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM Tehran time (08:00 GMT) on Wednesday, and from 4:30 AM to 7:30 AM on Thursday.
Iran has yet to make an official announcement regarding these military exercises or the specific timing. The precautionary measures are being taken against a backdrop of heightened regional tension. The potential for a broader conflict has increased following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, in Tehran last week. Both Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of being behind the assassination, and they have been joined by Hezbollah in threatening retaliation against Israeli targets.
This situation unfolds amid ongoing regional instability, with fears of escalating conflict intensified by the assassination and its potential ramifications. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement in Haniyeh’s killing. The broader context includes a ten-month Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which began after an unprecedented attack by Hamas on southern Israel. The ongoing offensive has significantly affected the Gaza Strip and exacerbated the already tense and volatile situation in the region.
